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What Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) is and what it means for the European cable Industry
The European Commission has formally adopted the proposal for the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), a landmark legislative initiative designed to boost European industrial competitiveness, accelerate decarbonisation, and reinforce the EU’s strategic autonomy in clean technology manufacturing.
The proposal aims to increase demand for low-carbon, European-made technologies and products, with the stated goal of boosting manufacturing, growing businesses, and creating jobs across the EU. The IAA represents one of the most significant industrial policy measures in recent years, building directly on the recommendations of the Draghi report on European competitiveness.
WHAT IS THE IAA?
The Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) is designed to boost manufacturing, grow businesses, and create jobs in the EU, while supporting industry’s adoption of cleaner, future-ready technologies. It is formally registered as COM(2026)100 and was published on 4 March 2026 after multiple delays.
As part of the Clean Industrial Deal, it aims to strengthen competitiveness and accelerate transition and innovation within European industries. It is rooted in the Draghi Report’s recommendations and the EU’s Competitiveness Compass, and the name change from “Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act” was reportedly requested to allow for a broader sectoral and technological scope.
IAA FOUR CORE PILLARS
- “Made in Europe” & Low-Carbon Procurement Criteria When a government spends money to procure or subsidise goods, certain CO₂ and “Made in EU” criteria must be met. These will apply to selected strategic sectors, notably steel, cement, aluminium, cars, and net-zero technologies, while establishing a framework that can be extended to other energy-intensive sectors such as chemicals.
- Faster Permitting The IAA aims to simplify and speed up authorisation processes for strategic industrial and infrastructure projects, particularly in energy-intensive sectors. Member states would also be required to adopt a single digital permitting process for manufacturing projects.
- Carbon Intensity Labelling The act would establish a low-carbon label, initially covering steel and then cement, to provide consumers with information on the carbon intensity of products.
- Strategic Manufacturing Targets The Act sets a goal to increase manufacturing’s share of EU GDP to 20% by 2035, compared to just 14.3% in 2024.
At Top Cable, we have historically demonstrated a strong commitment to the environment and we pursue the goal of decarbonisation in our manufacturing and logistics processes. You can view our entire sustainability plan (#movingreen) on our website.
“MADE IN EUROPE”: A NEW FRAMEWORK FOR STRATEGIC SECTORS
At the heart of the IAA is the introduction of formal “Made in EU” and low-carbon requirements for public procurement and public support schemes. These will apply initially to a set of selected strategic sectors — steel, cement, aluminium, cars, and net-zero technologies — while establishing a framework that can be extended to other energy-intensive sectors such as chemicals.
Based on the recommendations of the Draghi report, the Act introduces new “Made in EU” and/or low-carbon requirements in public procurement and public support schemes, strengthening European production capacities and increasing demand for European-made clean technologies and products.
The Act also introduces a requirement for Member States to establish a single digital permitting process, with the aim of speeding up and simplifying manufacturing and decarbonisation projects across the Union.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE EUROPEAN CABLE INDUSTRY
Despite Europacable‘s (to which Top Cable belongs) engagement with the Commission — including at Commissioner’s Cabinet level — transmission and distribution power cables, which had appeared in earlier drafts, have been excluded from the final scope. Their removal, alongside several other technologies, reflects political divergences within the Commission and Member States on the definition and application of “Made in Europe” requirements for strategic sectors.
Importantly, the proposal leaves the door open for the possible future inclusion of cables, as the Commission may add further net-zero technologies through secondary legislation once the regulation enters into force. This would include cables for transmission and distribution.
The proposal will now move to the European Parliament and the Council, where lively discussions are expected.
The adoption of the IAA also paves the way for the upcoming review of the EU Public Procurement Directives (expected in Q3 2026).
Top Cable will continue to monitor the progress of the IAA through the European Parliament and Council negotiations, and to support Europacable’s advocacy efforts to ensure that European-manufactured cables are recognised as the strategic, safety-critical components they are.
For more information on the IAA, visit the European Commission press corner.
